Functional Outcomes After Muscle-Sparing Fixation of Flail Chest Injuries.

OBJECTIVES

To present outcomes in a multicenter review of a large number of flail chest patients.

DESIGN

Retrospective case series.

SETTING

One urban Level I and 1 urban Level II trauma center.

PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-two adult patients who underwent treatment of their flail chest injury with locking plate and screw constructs through muscle-sparing approaches, followed for a minimum of 1 year postoperatively.

RESULTS

All patients went on to successful union, with complication rates in line with recent published norms. Periscapular strength returned to greater than 90% of the noninjured side by 3 months postoperatively and to within a mean of 95% of the noninjured side by 6 months postoperatively. Glenohumeral range of motion similarly improved over this same interval.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of anatomically designed modern locking plate and screw fixation constructs with muscle-sparing approaches results in efficient return to function and restoration of shoulder function and strength as compared with the noninjured shoulder.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.